Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Audi Jaray “Ugly Duckling”

I was at the
Alltypes show at Bodelwyddan Castle last weekend, there early as I was on a
club stand and I was watching an enclosed transporter pull up in front of the
Club Audi stand, thinking “someone must have too much time on their hands” my
jaw hit the floor when this rolled out of the back. The Audi 1923 Jaray “Ugly
Duckling” recreation you know the one from the recent TV advert, it was on load
from Audi UK and what a scoop to have on your club stand.

Designed by
Paul Jaray an Hungarian engineer who not only worked on the aerodynamics of
airships but also strived to bring the streamlined efficiency to the car
industry of the 1930’s. Even filing a patent for a streamlined styled body.

After setting
up a design studio an coach building works he created designs for Chrysler,
Mercedes, Ford, Maybach to name a few and obviously this one for Audi.
Unfortunately it was way too ahead of its time in the styling stakes and it
didn’t make production. For more info on his history head over to OctaneMagazines article.

Although this
is a recreation you wouldn’t think it, the attention to detail is astonishing
from the rivet bumps under the paint, to the curved glass and that streamlined
rear. It’s also larger than you’d think standing nearly 6’ tall. That single,
slighted off set seat also looks like it came straight out of a plane and its
proudly shown Auto Union badge on the front. It was a pleasure to walk round
when it was quiet before it was besotted with petrol heads also wanting to take
it in.